Device for separating liquid from a gas-liquid or vapor-liquid mixture

ABSTRACT

A device for separating the liquid fraction from a gas-liquid or vapor-liquid mixture,is formed of a riser tube containing means for rotating the upwardly flowing mixture. Enclosing the upper end of the riser tube and extending upwardly and downwardly from its upper end is a collecting shell with angularly shaped deflecting surfaces positioned in the shell which extend from a point below the upper edge of the riser tube to a point spaced upwardly from the upper edge of the riser tube. An inverted Ushaped baffle is arranged at the upper end of the riser tube to direct the liquid fraction into the collecting shell and concentrically arranged deflector tubes are positioned above the riser tube for directing the separated gas or vapor fraction through the deflecting surfaces.

[45] .lluly 24, 1973 United States Patent Meier et al.

[ DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LIQUID FROM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS AGAS-LIQUID OR VAPOR-LIQUID MIXTURE [75] Inventors: Franz Meier,Oberhausen-Sterkrade;

Primary Examiner-Bemard Nozick Erich Ossendorf, Bochum; Hubert -"r andMcGeady Woligarten, Oberhausen, Sterkrade, all of Germany Assign'ee:Guteholfnungshuette Sterkrade A.

[73] 57 ABSTRACT G" oberhausemsterkmde Germany A device for separatingthe liquid fraction from a gas- Apr. 15, 1971 p [22] Fl d liquid orvapor-liquid mixture,is formed of a riser tube containing means forrotating the upwardly flowing mixture. Enclosing the upper end of theriser tube and Appl. No.: 134,228

extending upwardly and downwardly from its upper end is a collectingshell with angularly shaped deflect- [52] ing surfaces positioned in theshell which extend from a point below the upper edge of the riser tubeto a point 55/440, 55 457, 55/466 Int. B0ld 45/12 55/440, 444, 447-457;

[58] Field of Search..............

spaced upwardly from the upper edge of the riser tube.

An inverted U-shaped baffle is arranged at the upper end of the risertube to direct the liquid fraction into the collecting shell andconcentrically arranged deflec- [561 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS tor tubes are positioned above the riser tube for direct-2,287,592 6/1942 Andrews............................. 2,594,490 4/1952Patterson 2,648,397 -8/l953 Ravese et al...... 3,603,062 9/l97l Robbinset INVENTORS ME/iR 0.5

BY Hue/5w FIG. I

PAINTED- DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LIQUID FROM A GAS-LIQUID OR VAPOR-LIQUIDMIXTURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention directed to adevice for separating the liquid fraction from a gas-liquid orvaporliquid mixture and, more particularly, it is directed 'to thearrangement of angularly shaped deflection surfaces positioned in thepath of the separated vapor or liquid fraction for removing any of theliquid fraction which is retained after the initial separating actiontakes place.

In known separating equipment a riser tube is provided with a collectingshell disposed concentrically about its upper edge and with meanslocated within the riser tube for rotating the mixture passing throughit so that the liquid fraction is directed outwardly in a paraboliccourse against the inside surface of the riser-tube and then passes overits upper edge into the collecting shell. The separated gas or vaporpasses axially upwardly from the riser tube with a substantial portionof the liquid fraction separated from it.

Further, it has been known to use separating equipment in which theliquid fraction is separated from the gas or vapor fraction by passingthe mixture against angularly shaped deflecting surfaces facing in thedirection of flow of the mixture. To incorporate these deflectingsurfaces with the separating means mentioned above for increasing theefficiency of the separating action, it would be necessary to arrangethe deflecting surfaces to receive the entire flow of the gas or vaporfraction so that any residual liquid in the gas or vapor fraction couldbe removed.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to improvethe efficiency of gas-liquid or vaporliquid separators by utilizingangularly shaped deflecting surfaces facing in the flow direction of theseparated gas or vapor fraction. Additionally, another obequipment whichis particularly suited for separating the liquid fraction from the vaporfraction in a steamwater mixture which contains a multiple of its weightin water after it has left the evaporation zone of a steam generator.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, the upper endof ariser tube is laterally enclosed by a collecting shell within whichangularly shaped deflecting surfaces, extending in the axial directionof the riser tube, are positioned. The collection shell extends aboveand below the upper end of the riser tube and the deflecting surfacesextend from a point below the upper edge of the riser tube to a pointabove its upper edge. Means are arranged within the riser tube forrotating the gas-liquid or vapor-liquid mixture rising through it sothat the liquid fraction is directed against its wall and is divertedinto the collection shell by means of an inverted U-shaped bafflepositioned about the upper end of the tube. At its lower end, thecollecting shell may be equipped with a siphon arrangement to preventany vaporfrom escaping at that point.

In this separating device, the deflecting surfaces are positioned in thecollecting shell to receive the separated gas or vapor fraction from theupper end of the riser tube and provide further separation of entrainedliquid from the gas or vapor fraction. As indicated above, thedeflecting surfaces extend from a point below the upper edge of theascending tube to a point above the upper edge and they are closed atthe top and bottom for directing the flow outwardly over the angularlyshaped surfaces. With the ends of the deflecting surfaces closed the gasor vapor fraction cannot bypass about the deflecting surfaces, but isdirected in a uniformly flowing manner through the surfaces. Inaddition, the separated liquid skimmed off by the baffle, is directed bythe lower ends of the deflecting surfaces into the collecting shell sothat the liquid fraction must overcome the same flow resistance as thegas or vapor fraction. The combination of the separating action withinthe riser tube and the deflecting surfaces improve the separatingefficiency of the device and also make it possible to afford high loadcapacities.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptivematter in which there is illustrated and described a preferredembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the Drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a separating device in accordancewith the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line Il-ll in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawing a vapor-liquidseparator is shown arranged to receive a vapor-liquid mixture containinga high percentage of liquid from the evaporation zone in a steamgenerator. The mixture is conducted upwardly through a riser tube 1 anda collecting shell 2 is disposed concentrically about the riser tube andis spaced outwardly from it. The collection shell extends upwardly anddownwardly from the upper edge of the riser tube. Positioned within theupper part of the colleciton shell are a multiplicity of deflectingsurfaces 3 arranged in the path of the mixture flowing from the upperend of the riser tube. The deflecting surfaces 3 extend in the axialdirection of the riser tube.

As shown in FIG. 2, the deflecting surfaces 3 are formed of variouslyshaped angularly disposed wall sections arranged in an offset orstaggered portion and forming an annular ring about the upper end of theriser tube. The angularly shaped wall sections are positioned so thatthe angle between the wall sections which is less than faces inwardlytoward the axis of the riser tube. In other words, at least certain ofthe walls of the deflecting surfaces are directed inwardly toward theriser tube. A closure member 4 extends across the upper ends of thedeflecting surfaces and also provides a closure for the space above theupper end of the riser tube. Another cover member 4a extends in anannular form about the lower ends of the deflecting tube, accordinglyany flow entering the inner periphery of the deflecting surfaces isrequired to pass laterally through the deflecting surfaces to the outerperiphery and cannot pass either upwardly or downwardly from the ends ofthe deflecting surfaces.

At thelower end of the collection shell a siphon 5 is provided by aupright U-shaped section located at the lower end of the collectionshell and a downwardly arranged annular wall secured to the riser pipeand positioned between the inner and outer legs of the U- shaped sectionwith its lower end located above the portion of the U-shaped sectionwhich connects its inner and outer legs. The height of the siphon 5 isdimensioned so that it is always filled with water during the separatingoperation.

Two flow diffusers 6 are aligned above the upper end of the riser tubeproviding an inner diffuser concentrically disposed about the axis ofthe riser tube and an outer diffuser concentrically disposed about theinner diffuser. The walls forming the diffusers diverge outwardly in theupward direction from the upper end of the riser tube. Due to thediametrical dimensions of the diffusers at their lower ends a centrallyarranged area is defined by the lower end of the inner diffuser and twoannular areas are defined, one between the lower ends of the inner andouter diffuser and the other between the outer diffuser and the upperend of the riser tube 1. Accordingly, the central area and the twoannular areas are approximately of the same size or area. Further, theheight of the diffusers 6 within the collecting shell is selected sothat the distance between the edge of the outer flow diffuser and theriser tube, the distance between the upper edge of the inner diffuserand the cover 4 across the top of the deflecting surfaces, and thedistance between the upper edges of the inner and outer diffusers areapproximately the same.

At the upper end of the riser tube, an inverted U- shaped baffle 7 isarranged with its inner leg spaced inwardly from the riser tube and itsouter leg which is longer spaced outwardly from the riser tube andextending downwardly within the collection space below the upper end ofthe riser tube. The spacing between the inner leg of the baffle tube andthe inside wall of the riser tube corresponds approximately to the widthof the rotating layer of the separated liquid fraction rising throughthe tube 1.

To rotate the rising gas-liquid or vapor-liquid mixture a displacementbody 8 is located extending along the axis of the riser tube 1 at aposition spaced downwardly from its upper end. Blades 9 bent in themanner of an impeller, are secured at their radially inner ends to thedisplacement body 8 and extend outwardly and are secured to the insidewall of the riser tube.

The separation of the mixture passing upwardly through the riser tube isaccomplished by the displacement body 8 and its attached blades 9 withthe mixture passing between the displacement body and the inside surfaceof the riser tube and being imparted a rotary motion by the blades 9.Due to the rotary effect developed in the mixture by the displacementbody 8 and blades 9, the liquid fraction is thrown outwardly against thewall of the riser tube in a parabolic form and as it flows upwardlyalong the wall of the riser tube it is diverted by the baffle 7 into thecollecting shell 2. The separated gas or vapor fraction passes upwardlyabout or through the flow diffusers which in combination with the coverplate 4 direct the gas or vapor fraction into the collecting shell 2 forpassage through the angularly shaped deflecting surfaces 3. The flowdiffusers 6 are dimensioned and arranged so that the separated gas orvapor flow is divided into three approximately equal parts. Any liquidentrained within the separated vapor or gas fraction is separated out onthe deflecting surfaces 3 and drains downwardly into the lower part ofthe collection shell 2. The separated liquid fraction is removed fromthe lower end of the collecting shell 2. The siphon 5 provided at thelower end of the collecting shell which is filled with the liquid duringthe operation of the separator prevents any separated gas or vaporfraction from escaping from the lower end of the collecting shell 2. Theseparated gas or vapor fraction from which any liquid has been finallyseparated in its passage over the deflecting surfaces, is dischargedfrom the separator through an annular gap 10 between the outer row ofdeflecting surfaces 3 and the collecting shell 2. From the separator thegas or vapor fraction can be introduced to a turbine, to another pointof use or to a storage space.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

We claim:

1. A device for separating the liquid fraction from a gas-liquid mixtureor a vapor-liquid mixture such as a steam water mixture, comprising ariser tube for conducting the mixture to be separated in an upwarddirection, a collecting shell laterally enclosing and spaced outwardlyfrom said riser tube, the upper end of said collecting shell ispositioned above the upper end of said riser tube and the lower end ofsaid collecting shell is positioned below the upper end of said risertube, means positioned within said riser tube and spaced downwardly fromits upper end for imparting a rotary motion to the mixture conveyedupwardly through said riser tube, wherein the improvement comprisesmeans located within said collecting chamber for forming a flow passagefor the mixture flowing from the upper end of said riser tube, saidmeans for forming a flow passage comprises a multiplicity of deflectingbaffle surfaces extending in the axial direction of said riser tube insurrounding relationship therewith defining a tortuous path andpositioned within said collecting shell, the upper ends of saiddeflecting surfaces are located above the upper end of said riser tubeand below the upper end of said collecting tube and the lower ends ofsaid deflecting surfaces are located below the upper end of said risertube and above the lower end of said collecting tube, a first closuremember extending transversely across the upper ends of said deflectingsurfaces and forming a closure for the upper end of said deflectingsurfaces and for the space above said riser tube, a second closuremember extending around said riser tube and extending transversely ofand positioned against the lower ends of said deflecting surfaces andforming a closure for the lower ends of said deflecting surfaces, aninverted U-shaped baffle positioned about the upper end of said risertube with the bight portion of said U-shaped baffle spaced upwardly fromthe edge at the upper end of said riser tube and having a radially innerleg and a radially outer leg, said inner leg is located inwardly fromthe upper end of said riser tube and said outer leg is located outwardlyfrom the upper end of said riser and is disposed within the flow passagein said collecting shell so that all of the flow of the mixture fromsaid riser tube is directed over said deflecting surfaces and passesoutwardly therethrough and cannot by-pass the top and bottom of saiddeflecting surfaces.

2. A device, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a siphon isarranged at the lower end of said collecting shell and comprising anupright U-shaped section forming the lower end of said collecting shellwith the inner leg of said U-shaped section spaced outwardly from saidriser tube, and an upright wall secured at its upper end to said risertube and extending downwardly into said U-shaped section is locatedbetween and spacedfrom the inner and outer legs of said U-shaped sectionwith the lower end of said upright wall being spaced upwardly above theportion of said U-shaped section interconnecting its inner and outerlegs.

3. A device, as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that saiddeflecting surfaces comprise longitudinally elongated walls having anangularly shaped crosssection in a plane generally normal to the axis ofsaid riser tube.

4. A device, as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that saidlongitudinally elongated walls of said deflecting surfaces form anglesin a range less than l 80 which angles face inwardly toward the axis ofsaid riser tube.

5. A device, as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that a first flowdiffuser tube having a diameter smaller than said riser tube is locatedconcentrically about the axis of said riser tube and is positioned abovesaid riser tube with its upper end located below said first closuremember across the upper ends of said deflecting surfaces, and a secondflow diffuser tube having a diameter greater than said first diffusertube and less than said riser tube is positioned above said riser tubeand located concentrically about and spaced outwardly from said firstflow diffuser tube with its upper end located below the upper end ofsaid first flow diffuser tube.

6. A device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the walls ofsaid first and second flow diffuser tubes diverge as said flow diffusertubes extend upwardly from the upper end of said riser tube.

7. A device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said firstand second flow diffuser tubes are dimensioned transversely to the axisof said riser tube so that a central area is formed by the lower end ofsaid first diffuser tube, a first annular area is formed between thelower ends of said first and second diffuser tubes and a third annulararea is formed between the lower end of said second diffuser tube andthe upper end of said riser tube with said central area first annulararea and second annular area having substantially the samecross-sectional areas.

8. A device, as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said firstand second flow diffuser tubes are dimensioned in the direction of theaxis of said riser tube so that the spacing between the upper end ofsaid riser tube and the upper end of said second diffuser tube, betweenthe upper end of said second diffuser tube and the upper end of saidfirst diffuser tube and between the upper end of said first diffusertube and said first closure member across the upper ends of saiddeflecting surfaces is substantially the same.

1. A device for separating the liquid fraction from a gas-liquid mixtureor a vapor-liquid mixture such as a steam water mixture, comprising ariser tube for conducting the mixture to be separated in an upwarddirection, a collecting shell laterally enclosing and spaced outwardlyfrom said riser tube, the upper end of said collecting shell ispositioned above the upper end of said riser tube and the lower end ofsaid collecting shell is positioned below the upper end of said risertube, means positioned within said riser tube and spaced downwardly fromits upper end for imparting a rotary motion to the mixture conveyedupwardly through said riser tube, wherein the improvement comprisesmeans located within said collecting chamber for forming a flow passagefor the mixture flowing from the upper end of said riser tube, saidmeans for forming a flow passage comprises a multiplicity of deflectingbaffle surfaces extending in the axial direction of said riser tube insurrounding relationship therewith defining a tortuous path andpositioned within said collecting shell, the upper ends of saiddeflecting surfaces are located above the upper end of said riser tubeand below the upper end of said collecting tube and the lower ends ofsaid deflecting surfaces are located below the upper end of said risertube and above the lower end of said collecting tube, a first closuremember extending transversely across the upper ends of said deflectingsurfaces and forming a closure for the upper end of said deflectingsurfaces and for the space above said riser tube, a second closuremember extending around said riser tube and extending transversely ofand positioned against the lower ends of said deflecting surfaces andforming a closure for the lower ends of said deflecting surfaces, aninverted U-shaped baffle positioned about the upper end of said risertube with the bight portion of said U-shaped baffle spaced upwardly fromthe edge at the upper end of said riser tube and having a radially innerleg and a radially outer leg, said inner leg is located inwardly fromthe upper end of said riser tube and said outer leg is located outwardlyfrom the upper end of said riser and is disposed within the flow passagein said collecting shell so that all of the flow of the mixture fromsaid riser tube is directed over said deflecting surfaces and passesoutwardly therethrough and cannot by-pass the top and bottom of saiddeflecting surfaces.
 2. A device, as set forth in claim 1, characterizedin that a siphon is arranged at the lower end of said collecting shelland comprising an upright U-shaped section forming the lower end of saidcollecting shell with the inner leg of said U-shaped section spacedoutwardly from said riser tube, and an upright wall secured at its upperend to said riser tube and extending downwardly into said U-shapedsection is located between and spaced from the inner and outer legs ofsaid U-shaped section with the lower end of said upright wall beingspaced upwardly above the portion of said U-shaped sectioninterconnecting its inner and outer legs.
 3. A device, as set forth inclaim 1, characterized in that said deflecting surfaces cOmpriselongitudinally elongated walls having an angularly shaped cross-sectionin a plane generally normal to the axis of said riser tube.
 4. A device,as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said longitudinallyelongated walls of said deflecting surfaces form angles in a range lessthan 180* which angles face inwardly toward the axis of said riser tube.5. A device, as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that a first flowdiffuser tube having a diameter smaller than said riser tube is locatedconcentrically about the axis of said riser tube and is positioned abovesaid riser tube with its upper end located below said first closuremember across the upper ends of said deflecting surfaces, and a secondflow diffuser tube having a diameter greater than said first diffusertube and less than said riser tube is positioned above said riser tubeand located concentrically about and spaced outwardly from said firstflow diffuser tube with its upper end located below the upper end ofsaid first flow diffuser tube.
 6. A device, as set forth in claim 5,characterized in that the walls of said first and second flow diffusertubes diverge as said flow diffuser tubes extend upwardly from the upperend of said riser tube.
 7. A device, as set forth in claim 5,characterized in that said first and second flow diffuser tubes aredimensioned transversely to the axis of said riser tube so that acentral area is formed by the lower end of said first diffuser tube, afirst annular area is formed between the lower ends of said first andsecond diffuser tubes and a third annular area is formed between thelower end of said second diffuser tube and the upper end of said risertube with said central area first annular area and second annular areahaving substantially the same cross-sectional areas.
 8. A device, as setforth in claim 5, characterized in that said first and second flowdiffuser tubes are dimensioned in the direction of the axis of saidriser tube so that the spacing between the upper end of said riser tubeand the upper end of said second diffuser tube, between the upper end ofsaid second diffuser tube and the upper end of said first diffuser tubeand between the upper end of said first diffuser tube and said firstclosure member across the upper ends of said deflecting surfaces issubstantially the same.